Google Books is an excellent resource for historical and genealogical researchers.
Publications from 1927 and before are in the public domain. Works in the public domain may be used without seeking permission from the creator of the work.
Most researchers have harnessed the power of a general Google search. "Google It" is now a catch-phrase known to many. What is excellent for historical researchers is the ability to search within a digitized book - all through the platform of Google Books.
Here is an example. From the main search screen at: https://books.google.com/
the following search criteria was entered: "mercy wells" deerfield. The search yielded 2 pages of results, although many of the books could not be viewed, due to copyright restrictions.
Using the provided filters, the search was modified:
Any books: Free Google eBooks
Any document: Books
Any time: Any time
Sorted by relevance: Sorted by date
This yielded 5 excellent, relevant results. Using the free Google eBooks filter will yield books out of copyright. Sorted by date will list the books from newest to oldest.
The power of Google Books is that each book can be fully key-word searched. This is a great feature for genealogical research, and is often overlooked.
Here are two excerpts from books found that provide great genealogical information:
Excerpt 1, a transcription of an epitaph.[1]
What is learned?
Zeeb Wells died 6 Oct. 1779
Zeeb Wells died "through bleeding at the nose"
Zeeb Wells was aged 17 years and 3 months at death
Zeeb Wells is the son of Ebenezer Wells and Mercy Wells
Ebenezer Wells is the son of Thomas [Wells]
Mercy [Wells] is the daughter of Samuel Bardwell
From this one excerpt, we have learned facts about three generations of the Wells family. In addition, and key, is that the maiden name for Mercy is discovered. Finding a maiden name for a women born in the 18th century is often difficult.
Excerpt 2, from this excerpt, more is learned about the family of Mercy Wells.[2]
Mercy Wells lived in Deerfield
Mercy Wells was a widow by 26 November 1785
Mercy Wells is the guardian [possibly mother?] to Sarah Wells and Mercy Wells, both minors, of Deerfield
Mercy Wells made a petition to the court to sell property for the benefit of said minors
The land borders land of Eldad Bardwell and Thomas Bardwell [could be related to Mercy (Bardwell) Wells?]
These two resources provided many valuable clues for further research on the Wells family.
Thank you Google Books!
Sources:
[1] C. Alice Baker and Emma L. Coleman, Epitaphs in the Old Burying-Ground at Deerfield, Mass. (Topsfield, Massachusetts: The Perkins Press, 1924), 41; Google Books (http://books.google.com : accessed 25 January 2021).
[2] Acts and Resolves of Massachusetts, 1784-85 (Boston: Adams & Nourse, 1784 (sic)), 797-798; Google Books (http://books.google.com : accessed 25 January 2021).
For more information:
https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2021/#:~:text=Works%20from%201925%20were%20supposed,copyright%20term%20to%2095%20years.
Copyright 2021, 2023, Debora Ellen Blodgett
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